Heater for incubators.



A. ESSIG.

HEATER FOR INCUBATORS. APPLICATION mm MAY 28. 1910.

Patented. Apr. 27, 1915.

[[VVEN TOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW ESSIG, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HEATER FOR INCU'BATOBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Original application filed May 5, 1909, Serial No. 494,077. Divided and this application filed May 28, 1910.

Y Serial No. 563,940.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW ESSIG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heaters for Incubators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, which is a division and continuation of my application Serial No. 494,077, filed May 5, 1909, Patent No. 964,467

My present invention relates to heaters for incubators, and has for its object certain ad vantageous features of construction and operation, which are explained somewhat in detail in connection with my improved incubator, and are particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In ,the preferred type of incubator to which my invention is herein applied, there is provided a tank adapted to contain a body 'of water, used as the principal heat-carrying medium, with which tank are associated suitably regulated fines for transmitting the heat and controlling the heating efiect; while associated with the lamp or suitable heating medium is an open outer drum connected with the upper portion of the incubator and afiording the same a supply of freshly heated air from the exterior, to maintain a downward circulation within the incubator, the structure being provided with perforated transverse shelves for permitting such circulation. The foregoing, together with other features of construction, will be explained at some length in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of an incubator constructed in accordance with my improvements, wherein certain portions are broken away and shown in dotted lines, better to illustrate the features thereof. Fig. H is a transverse section, showing the features of the lateral channel. or recessed tank, and means for turning the eggs therein. Fig. U1 is a detail illustrating the removable slide for controlling the orifice of the nearer flue; and Fig. 1V is another detail peculiar construction, which is adapted to form a nest for the eggs under incubation, and serves to transmit the requisite heat for developing the germs. In order to increase the efiiciency, and accordingly the percentage of chicks hatched, l have provided a vertical tank, containing a transverse and two vertical inner fiues b b b", which are connected with the lamp 0? and its chimney d, and serve to maintain the desired temperature of the water within the tank. EX- tending across both vertical faces or side walls of the tank, are channels 0, which are slightly higher than the short diameter of the egg, so that the eggs may be inclosed upon three sides by the walls of the tank. There are six of these channels on either side of the tank in the incubator shown herewith, .and before each of these channels, I preferably provide a perforated guard or shelf 0, which will prevent the eggs from being displaced.

- Lining the several channels is a continuous strip of fabric 6, retained in place rearwardly of each channel by means of a wire or strip 6, and as this fabric extends rearwardly of the shelves 0, and the eggs rest directly upon the fabric against the lower horizontal faces of the channels, it is seen that by pulling the ends of the fabric e from top or bottom, will serve to turn the eggs within the channels as is frequentiy required during incubation. The door a preferably has a peripheral strip of felt a along its edge, and a glass panel a may be inserted within the door frame, in which event there preferably is provided a heavy curtain a exteriorly of the door for checkwith which I am ing radiation through the glass. Thus an observation incubator is readily provided. However, as the heat is equally distributed by the, fluid within the tank, which is sub ect to slight variation, and the eggs are so completely inclosed, their temperature is maintained more uniform than in any incubator acquainted. Heat is imparted therein naturally by direct contact.

In order to effect the more ready distribution of the heat, I preferably restrict the opening of the nearer flue b, as by the movable slide 6*, so that approximately equal volumes of heated air and gas from the lamp will find exit through these fiues or chimneys 6' 6 The central capped opening 6 enables the contents of the tank to be replenished from time to time.

In order to afford free circulation of freshly heated volumes of air within the incubator, I preferably surround the chimney d of the lamp d, with a drum at" open from the bottom and connecting with the top of the incubator casing by means of a pipe (1 By this means freshly heated air is constantly supplied at the top of the incubator, and the temperature not only is equalized thereby, since the tank itself is a trifle more highly heated at the bottom, but the depleted air finds constant exit through gauze-covered openings a in the bottom of the incubator casing controlled by slide a The burner section of the lamp is attached to the drum by means of spring clips d, so that the former may be readily removed for filling the fount or trimming the wick. The usual thermostat t and rod t may be employed for intermittently lifting the cover difrom the chimney immediately the'desired temperature is exceeded, through the medium of the weighted lever arm d". Consideration of the foregoing will prove convincing that the eggs, being maintained at a more uniform temperature, surrounded upon three sides as they are by a relatively large body of fluid, will hatch a larger percentage of chicks, than in the ordinary types of incubator. Moreover, the fluctuations of temperature are further minimized by reason of the employment of the system of freshly heated air for ventilating, in conjunction with the incubating tank, While the eggs maybe readily turned from time to time, by movlng the supporting fabric at either side of the tank, and Without danger of breakage or cooling the eggs, as when they require individual handling. Accordingly, I desire to claim my improvements set forth; omitting those details which are desirable only for explaining the structure shown, and pursuant to the statutes specify the following as comprising my invention.

I claim 1. In an incubator, the combination with of an external heating-device,

the casing inclosing the incubating-chamber, a plurality of permanently-open fiues connected therewith and extending through the incubating-chamber in different planes, thermostatic means for controlling the heating-device and an adjustable member having openings of different size, positioned in the flue nearer said heating-device, whereby its orifice is regulated and the heating effect within the chamber may be equalized, substantially as set forth.

2. In an incubator, the combination with an exterior casing, of a fluid tank positioned therein, a lamp for heating the same exterior of the casing, a plurality of normally-open connecting fiues communicating with the lamp extending interiorly of the, tank, and

means comprising a rotatable perforated slide for securing the equalized passage of the heated air and gases through said fiues, substantially as set forth.

'3. In an incubator, the combination with an exterior casing, of a flnid tank positioned therein, a lamp for heating the same exterior of the casing, a plurality of normally-open connecting fiues communicating with the lamp and positioned at different distances therefrom interiorly of the tank, and means comprising a rotatable perforated slide for restricting the orifice of one of the fiues for the purpose of. diverting an equalized volume of air and heated gas through the other flue, substantially as set forth.

4. In an incubator, the combination with a vertical tank, ofmeans for heating the same,

a plurality of perforated shelves extending across the face of the tank substantially in horizontal planes, an exterior casing, and means for ventilating the interior of the incubator transversely of the shelves, comprising an open drum associated with the heating means and connected with the upper portion of the incubator, substantially as set forth.

5. In an incubator, the combination with a vertical tank, of means for heating the same, a plurality of perforated shelves extending across the face of the tank substantially in horizontal planes; said shelves forming guards to prevent displacement of the eggs and supports for the chicks when hatched, an exterior casing, and means for ventilating the interior of the casing from above transversely of the shelves, comprising an open memeae I ciistanees from the heating (levies, and means in presenee of We witnesses this seventeenth for regnihiratinig1 tlif'pgssage of heatel air and day 0f May, A... 11)., 1910. gases t oug e ue nearer sai eating I fievice whereby the heating effect within the ANDREWESS 5 chamber is equalized, substantially as set Witnesses:

ferfin. v E; P. Enema In tesfimony whereof I aflix my signature ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE. 

